Youth seek communityâ€™s support

Morrisburg Pentecostal 180 Youth Group, an organization which welcomes youth from grades three to twelve to join them for fun and fellowship Friday nights, has taken on a project to help youth in a rural Tanzania raise enough funds to dig a well that will change their lives.

They leaned about the Tanzania project at a youth convention and since that time have been collecting pennies for the cause.

They decided on collecting pennies after they heard that our government was no longer going to produce pennies. They explained that they thought maybe this community in Tanzania could turn something that we no longer see as important to us into something very important to them.

The group, which consists of about 30 local youth, have already gathered up their own pennies. Project leader Rose Wickwire and youth leader Nicole Hummell are proud of the efforts of the group members and now they are turning to the community to support them in their efforts.

“Now we are reaching out to the community to help us help the children of Tanzania have fresh water like you,” said Wickwire.

September 21, the group will be at Canadian Tire, Giant Tiger and the Ultramar Gas Bar from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. asking people to donate their pennies, or any spare change, to the cause.

They also plan to hold a spaghetti dinner to raise funds.

Morrisburg Pentecostal 180 Youth Group has for a number of years been open to youth from grades nine to twelve, but recently opened its doors to include all youth from grade three and up.

They meet Friday nights at Morrisburg Pentecostal Church located along Lakeshore Drive. The meetings open with worship then they break into smaller similar aged groups for different curriculums, games and activities. Once a month they go to the gym at the local school. Anyone is welcome to join at any time. Simply come by any Friday night at 7 p.m sign the paperwork and join the group.

The group is called 180 because, 180 represents turning away from something to head in a different direction. “Here we are turning to things that honour God,” said Wickwire.”

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Door-knocking is one area where the SD&G OPP have had a lot of success over the past year.

OPP Sgt. Brent Mattice explained to South Dundas council at the February 19 meeting that door knocking is a process whereby police randomly knock on the door of a residence where one of its occupants is under release conditions.

Through this, police are able to determine whether the person is complying with the conditions of his/her release.

Although it does take time, Mattice reported that it is a worthy endeavour, which has resulted in the arrest of 20 individuals who were not complying with conditions.

“It’s a good process,” said Mattice. “The bad guys know that we (the OPP) are out there, we’re active and we’re checking on them.”

Calls for service

Mattice reported that although the local detachment is short-staffed, they have managed to handle the calls for service, even though the numbers have increased slightly over last year.

South Dundas recorded the second highest number of calls for service of the six municipalities in the United Counties, according to Mattice. However, he added that the number of calls to each was very similar, with the exception of North Stormont.

New tool at the disposal of OPP

The police services board has purchased a portable device that police can attach to a sign post to monitor traffic flow and speeds.

“It should provide us with a lot of meaningful data,” said Mattice, explaining that with the use of this device they will be better able to identify problem areas in need of further enforcement.

Collisions rise

The number of traffic collisions has increased slightly from last year, but Sgt. Mattice reported the upside of the stat. “The number of fatalities has decreased,” said Mattice. Last year there were 10, this year six.

Traffic enforcement goal

Distracted drivers continue to be a key target for traffic enforcement for the OPP in SD&G and across the province.

“Happiness quite unshared can scarcely be called happiness; it has not taste,” wrote Charlotte Bronte.

Returning home to 2011, the Iroquois Lawn-Bowling Club (ILBC) has agreed to share their clubhouse with the neighbouring Iroquois Campsite, hopefully to the benefit and happiness of both.

At the November 1st South Dundas council meeting, Clerk Brenda Brunt reported on the current status of the situation saying, “I was asked to meet with the lawn-bowling club. The campsite is right there and they’d like to use it.”

She told council that the ILBC doesn’t “have any problems” with the request. They would, however, “just like something in return.”

Brunt reported that her “only problem with the building is that it’s not wheelchair accessible,” which means that the “washrooms are not accessible.”

As it turns out, the building in question belongs, in fact, to the township. Council quickly decided that the Iroquois Campsite should be authorized to share the space with the ILBC.

As for the requests from ILBC, Mayor Steven Byvelds said they would deal with the financial request in 2012 as they really need to consider how they’re going to move forward with such a large request.

ILBC is asking for monetary help with the upkeep of their greens and floodlights, as well as probable updates to the clubhouse building.

The Easter Seals Society, whose financial and emotional support means so much to many young people, was again delighted by the participation of the community, service clubs and local businesses in the 2012 fund raising bonspiel held at the Morrisburg Curling Club on Saturday, March 3. “We had 12 teams, including two of Little Rocks, an Oddfellows team and teams from the Morrisburg and District Lions and the Iroquois-Matilda Lions clubs with us,” said Bob Ruddock, treasurer for the Dundas County Easter Seals. “We were able to raise $1,425. Betty Locke organized the event and she and Jim donated a stained glass work for the draw, which was won by Fred Langlotz. This was a for fun bonspiel, although prizes for the top two teams were donated. The final fun draw was a competition between Kyra Lewis, six, and Graham Pemberton, 84.” Pictured above (l-r), in back, are Martina Lewis, Ross Ward, representing Easter Seals, and Emily Byers. In front are Kyra Lewis and Ewan Wilson.